[Sca-cooks] Coffyn Paste

[Johnna Holloway]

Hot Water Crust or Raised Pie Pastry

1 pound plain flour   450 grams
1/4 ounce salt
4 ounces lard      100 grams
one half pint hot water 300 ml

Sift the flour and salt into a warm bowl and make
a well in the centre. Boil the lard in the water until melted
and pour into the flour; mix quickly with a wooden spoon.
Knead the dough by hand while the mixture is still warm, until all the
flour is worked in and the pastry is smooth and free from cracks.
Use while still warm and before it hardens. It cannot be stored
at this stage although it may be stored after moulding to the desired shape.

Lizzie Boyd, ed. British Cookery. 1976, 1984. page 96.

The measurements are the British measures used in the 1970's.
The gram equivalents come from the suggested conversion chart in the book.
This makes a great strong crust for standing pastry.
If you have a microwave, you can heat the lard and water in the microwave
until it is super hot. The lard will melt and sit on the surface. This 
is one of instances
where shaking the measuring cup can in fact make the liquid suddenly 
explode or
release steam. Be warned.

Johnnae


Lilinah wrote:
> We've had some lively conversations about the dough needed to make an 
> inedible, free-standing coffyn in the past few months.
> People have mentioned ingredients - flour - lard and/or water - salt - 
> sometimes eggs. But i don't recall seeing one with some idea of 
> proportions. I know that flours vary in the amount of water they'll 
> absorb, so i'm not asking for an exact recipe. But i was hoping to get 
> something with more details than just a list of potential ingredients.
>
> I realize this would be based on the experience of cooks on the list 
> and not an actual historical recipe.
>
> Thanks for more clues...